Maluku Islands (a.k.a Spice Islands)

The Maluku islands are an east Indonesian archipelago located east of Sulawesi and west of New Guinea.

It is thought that the islands derive their name from the term used by Arab traders to describe the region, Jazirat al-Moluk (“the island of the kings”). Some other sources claim that the name comes from a local language with the meaning the head of a bull or the head of something large. However, the archipelago has more to offer than just the mystery surrounding the origin of its name. Maluku hosts a variety of animals, and the Wallacea region is known for its rich biodiversity.